Paris Saint Germain vs Dinamo Zagreb preview - PSG look for response

Posted Tuesday, November 06, 2012 by PA

Paris St Germain will look to bounce back from their weekend disappointment in Ligue 1 when they host Champions League whipping boys Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.

Dinamo have lost their last nine matches in the group stage and appear the ideal opposition for a PSG side reeling from losing 2-1 at home to St Etienne on Saturday - their first domestic defeat of the season.

A bad day for Carlo Ancelotti's men was compounded by the dismissal of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a dreadful chest-high studs-up tackle on Les Verts goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.

Midfielder Mohamed Sissoko accepted it had been a match to forget for PSG and revealed Ancelotti had already called on his players to hit back against the Croatians.

He told Le Parisien newspaper: "If you do not put enough intensity into a match then inevitably you lose.

"We've been through it and while it is not a disaster we must get our heads up quickly.

"The coach told us we now face Zagreb and we should use the St Etienne game to be self-critical."

Ancelotti welcomes back forward Ezequiel Lavezzi for the game, with the Argentina international having overcome a hamstring injury suffered in the 1-0 defeat at Porto on October 3.

Blaise Matuidi is also fit despite limping off in the early stages of the weekend setback but Thiago Motta and Nene remain absent while Clement Chantome and Mathieu Bodmer also miss out through injury.

Ibrahimovic is eligible as his suspension only applies to domestic fixtures.

Dinamo come into the game as rank outsiders with defensive midfielder Arijan Ademi admitting an away win would be an "upset".

The Croatian side have yet to score a goal in Group A and went down 2-0 at home to PSG on matchday three.

Ademi told reporters at Zagreb airport: "We are going to score that goal finally.

"We are looking to cause an upset and we are definitely not just going to play defensive football."

Dinamo's star midfielder Sammir is battling to overcome a hamstring injury but coach Ante Cacic is confident he will be okay for the Parc des Princes clash.

"He feels much better now, but I will decide whether he will play or not after today's practice session in Paris," Cacic told www.uefa.com.

Despite their poor record in Europe, Dinamo remain the team to beat at home.

They overcame NK Istra 3-1 at the weekend to improve their record to 11 wins from 14 games and establish an 11-point lead at the top from second-placed Hajduk Split.